Fresh trust vote in Karnataka

The BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP Govt in Karnataka will seek a fresh trust vote on Thursday. Governor HR Bhardwaj on Tuesday rejected Monday’s voting as a "farce" while the Centre too indicated Govt would be dismissed and President’s Rule imposed unless a fresh vote was taken. HT reports. A political thriller | Story so far

The BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka will seek a fresh trust vote on Thursday. Governor HR Bhardwaj on Tuesday rejected Monday’s voting as a "farce" while the Centre too indicated government would be dismissed and President’s Rule imposed unless a fresh vote was taken.

On Monday, the government won a motion of confidence through a controversial voice vote following the disqualification of 16 dissident legislators.

The governor said the voting was not recorded in the proceedings of the House. But the Centre felt the BJP government can be given another chance to prove its majority and nudged the governor to amend his position on seeking President’s Rule.

“In case you are willing to do so, I give you a fresh opportunity," the governor wrote to the CM. The BJP — on the offensive against Bhardwaj — accepted the proposal for a fresh vote.

The question of President’s Rule was not discussed at a meet of the Union cabinet in Delhi. "It is a test of the BJP’s public morality and legality,” said a Union minister. “The governor is giving the Karnataka government an opportunity to demonstrate its majority, not issuing a directive,” he said.

With the Karnataka HC on Tuesday refusing to stay the disqualification of 11 BJP rebels and five Independents, the strength of the House on Thursday will be 208. The BJP has 105 MLAs, a wafer-thin majority. If the court restores the voting rights of the 16 MLAs, the government will be in danger again.

"The court has not allowed voting rights to the 16 MLAs and we will surely win the vote,” a BJP functionary said. According to the BJP, Bopaiah’s decision to disqualify the MLAs will stand the scrutiny of the court.